Pine Warbler with Prey, on Pine Cone

[Melissa Groo]

Canon 1D4
500mm
gitzo/Wimberley

ISO 1000
f/4.0
1/800 sec

Just back from a weekend taking a workshop with Matthew Studebaker in Allegany State Park in western NY. Had a wonderful time and got many songbirds. This is from a set up in the forest. I loved that the pine warbler stood for us fleetingly on the pine, and had a bee in its beak. Wonder if others like the prey or would prefer the image without it--I do have several of those too.
Cropped from a horizontal. A bright patch in ULC darkened. Slight sharpen, NR.
Thanks so much for looking. All C & C greatly appreciated.

[Humberto Ramos]

Melissa, I do love the composition, the BG, the bee, everything. IMO I would give another round of USM in the head.

[Colin Knight]

Agree with the previous comment, lacking some detail it seems. Awesome perch and BG!

[Melissa Groo]

Ok, here is another go with more sharpening; hope it's improved. Thanks for your comments.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

This is really Nice Melissa. Detail and bg work nicely. I only wish you had framed it with the cone a little more off center. What a cool perch hah?

[Karl Egressy]

Very appropriate perch for a Pine Warbler.
Nice perch, head angle and the food item in the beak adds interest, Melissa.

[Don Lacy]

Love the colors and the perch and would not lose the bee your on your repost you should have selectively sharpen the bird only no need to the pine cones this will create the illusion that your subject is sharp when compared to the rest of the image

[arash_hazeghi]

This is very sweet Melissa, love the prey and the perch. those saturated yellows are cool. I like the repost and good comments about sharpening

[Humberto Ramos]

The repost is better Melissa.

[Satish Ranadive]

Sweet image with lovely perch and bg. Loved the pose,colors and details on the bird.

[Doug Brown]

The repost is a definite improvement. I like the inclusion of the prey and the great perch.

[gail bisson]

Hi Melissa,
Perch and BG are sweet. Repost is excellent. Definitely love the bug and I like the little foot.
I think I would like a bit more room on the right.
Gail

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Cool looking bird and BG. Like the yellows and dark contrast.

[Marina Scarr]

Lovely environment, colors and details. Like the repost better, although I see some kind of odd dark marks over each head. Could it be my monitor? I would take some off the top and the left to place it a tad more off center.

[Matthew Studebaker]

So nice having you along! Great shot. The repost is even better. The sharpening looks perfect on my screen. Can't wait to see more of your shots from the trip!

[Melissa Groo]

I'll put some more up next week, Matthew! Thanks again. And thanks to all for your comments.